A BEAVER Scout leader has made a desperate plea for volunteers to prevent the group from closing.

Jacqui Nicholson is the leader of 1st Barnard Castle Beaver Scouts, which will be forced to close next month if helpers are not found to run the group.

Six months ago, there were three people in charge, but one leader left before Christmas due to work commitments, and a second will leave on July 20.

With legal requirements stating that a group needs at least two warranted leaders, the group will be forced to close should another volunteer not be found.

The group, which meets on Friday evenings, currently has 14 members, but has a waiting list of 60 boys, with the uncertainty over the future stopping Ms Nicholson accepting more.

She said: "We need someone who is an outdoor-type person who likes camping and rambling and that sort of thing and also must like being around children.

"Once the kids end up in Scouting they don't end up in trouble, or hanging around the streets. It would be such a shame if we had to close."

Anyone who is interested in volunteering is asked to contact Ms Nicholson on (01833) 695415.